I don't know what more he could have said, or how he could have said any of it better than he did.

Tiger Woods seemed to be speaking from a place in his soul he once seemed incapable of going. He should have done it weeks ago, but this is his road and his journey.

“I brought this shame on myself.”

In some ways, we may have been seeing Woods for the first time, and he sketched an unforgiving self-portrait and made no excuses for his behavior.

This was no easy admission for someone who has prided himself on being in control. To stand before the world and admit personal failings, to acknowledge how badly he'd hurt the people he's supposed to care most about, was no small step.

Yes, it was all carefully scripted but don't get caught up in style. Woods bared his soul.

“I convinced myself normal rules didn't apply. I thought only about myself. I felt I was entitled.”

That he waited until he was cornered, until his life was out of control, is relevant. As Tiger quoted his wife, Elin, as saying, he'll be judged by his behavior, not his words.

One moment struck a disingenuous note. That was at the end of his 13-minute statement when he left the stage and hugged his mom. Their embrace lasted too long, seemed too choreographed. This was a day for coming clean, not symbolism.

Otherwise, Woods did fine. He accepted all the blame, admitted there's still work to do and said he has no idea when he'll play golf again.

Robotic? So what?

He spoke of the trust that had been broken with his fans, especially the parents who'd pointed to him as a role model. He seemed to understand he'd done damage that could never be repaired.

Because he didn't amputate a limb or set himself on fire, this day won't be enough for some people. Already there has been carping that he was too robotic, too rehearsed.

Yes, he was robotic. Yes, he was rehearsed. What was he supposed to do? Wing it? Dress down?

There will be a day when Woods will take questions, when he'll open himself up to cross-examination. But if you come to this topic wanting names, dates and places, you're going to be disappointed by the next step, too.

This simply was a step in the right direction, a tough, painful, necessary step. Those people unhappy with this first step weren't going to be happy with anything short of a public suicide.

“I need to regain my balance so I can save the things that are most important to me — my marriage and my children.”

Woods apologized to his fellow tour players and sponsors. In doing so, he again pointed the finger at himself and no one else.

He spoke of being raised a Buddhist and how his life had gotten so far away from its teachings.

Other public people have offered apologies for their actions, but this one was different. He's the most famous athlete on earth, and his downfall was chronicled in a way no other downfall ever has been.

“I ask you to find it in your heart to believe in me again.”

Woods is a good reminder to be careful about building up people to be more than they are. His skill is hitting a golf ball. If we made him out to be more than that, some of that blame is on us.

He is a guy who makes golf shots. Nothing more. Some of you will point out he was marketed as much more than a golfer. In the end, though, he plays golf.

Woods was a role model for hitting a golf ball, nothing else. Cops and teachers are role models. Parents are role models. Red Cross workers are role models. For God's sake, raise your standards.

We were duped

Woods' mistake was freakishly controlling his image and allowing people to believe he was something he never was. People bought it, but how is that different than the spin masters selling empty suits as statesmen? We bought in to Tiger because we wanted to buy Tiger.

Woods settled nothing on Friday. He couldn't. He showed the public a more human face and may have taken the first step back to a public life.

At the end of this thing, the only people who matter are his wife and children. Those are the people he really hurt, and if there's any real healing done there, we won't be allowed to watch.